Thesis (Honors)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains 12-14 p. Includes bibliographical references . Available online via Ohio State University's Knowledge Bank.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3554. Adviser: John R. Herbold. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1994.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1994.

Youth represent a substantial portion of smokeless tobacco (ST) users in Canada compared to the general population. Highest prevalence of use is typically seen in males, in current smokers, and in the Western provinces. ST use has also been associated with youth who participate in sports teams. Furthermore, ST has been marketed to youth through the use of flavours and sweeteners to make ST more attractive and appealing. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of ST use among Canadian youth and examine factors associated with its use. The study used self-report data from 29,007 grade 9-12 youth who participated in the 2010-2011 Canadian Youth Smoking Survey (YSS). Logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with ST ever and current use among Canadian youth as well as among the sub-population of youth smokers. A mediation analysis was also used to understand if (a) sports team participation or (b) physical activity mediate an association between attempting to quit smoking and ST use among youth smokers. In 2010-2011, 5.3% of Canadian youth had ever used ST and 1.9% were current ST users. Odds of ST use were highest among males, grade 12 students, youth with more than $100 of weekly spending money and current smoking youth. This study was the first to identify associations between both physical activity and sports team participation and ST use among grade 9-12 Canadian youth. Continued monitoring of ST use among youth is recommended. Additionally, further research is needed to explore beyond individual-level factors and understand broader influences of ST use among youth.

Youth represent a substantial portion of smokeless tobacco (ST) users in Canada compared to the general population. Highest prevalence of use is typically seen in males, in current smokers, and in the Western provinces. ST use has also been associated with youth who participate in sports teams. Furthermore, ST has been marketed to youth through the use of flavours and sweeteners to make ST more attractive and appealing. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of ST use among Canadian youth and examine factors associated with its use. The study used self-report data from 29,007 grade 9-12 youth who participated in the 2010-2011 Canadian Youth Smoking Survey (YSS). Logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with ST ever and current use among Canadian youth as well as among the sub-population of youth smokers. A mediation analysis was also used to understand if (a) sports team participation or (b) physical activity mediate an association between attempting to quit smoking and ST use among youth smokers. In 2010-2011, 5.3% of Canadian youth had ever used ST and 1.9% were current ST users. Odds of ST use were highest among males, grade 12 students, youth with more than $100 of weekly spending money and current smoking youth. This study was the first to identify associations between both physical activity and sports team participation and ST use among grade 9-12 Canadian youth. Continued monitoring of ST use among youth is recommended. Additionally, further research is needed to explore beyond individual-level factors and understand broader influences of ST use among youth.

Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in the world, and 5 million people worldwide continue to smoke. Further adding to the problem is the fact that smoking cessation rates are very low, and there are some smokers for whom quitting smoking is extremely difficult. Many smokers find nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products unappealing, and even when used as directed NRTs only achieve modest cessation rates. Smokeless tobacco (ST) may be more appealing than NRT and deliver nicotine in a more palatable way to cigarette smokers. ST is also far less harmful than smoking. It is for these reasons that many scientists and health professionals have suggested the use of ST as a substitute for smoking to reduce tobacco-related harm. Although the health risk posed by ST appears to be much less than conventional cigarettes, the extent to which ST may serve as a harm reduction product is highly contentious. Furthermore, although ST products are legal and widely available, it remains unclear whether conventional cigarette smokers in Canada will use ST products as a substitute for cigarettes or as a cessation aid, if at all. And despite the strong evidence for the effectiveness of cigarette warning labels, there is little research on ST health warning labels. The current study investigated perceptions of ST products with and without HWLs and relative health risk messages among 611 young adult Canadian smokers aged 18-30. The study sought to examine the impact of ST health warning labels (HWLs) on appeal, willingness to use, and perceived health risk and addictiveness. Participants completed a survey during which they were asked to view and provide their opinions on a series of ST packages that were digitally altered according to each of six experimental conditions: (1) "standard" packages of leading ST brands, (2) "standard" packages + a relative risk message about the harm of cigarettes compared to ST added, (3) "Standard" packages + text HWL, (4) "Standard" packages + text HWL and relative risk message, (5) "Standard" packages + picture HWL, and (6) "Standard" packages + picture HWL and relative risk message. The findings indicate that many smokers are unaware that ST is less harmful to health compared to smoking. Despite this, approximately half of young adult Canadian smokers indicated that iv they were willing to try ST as a substitute for smoking and to help quit smoking. Picture warnings increased misperceptions about the health risk of ST and decreased smokers‘ willingness to try ST, whereas text warnings did not. Similarly, adding a relative health risk message to the warning label that communicates the lower risk of ST compared to cigarettes increased willingness to try ST when added to text warnings, and decreased willingness to try ST even further when added to picture warnings. This study is among the first to examine ST warning labels, and is the first to examine the impact of picture warning labels on ST. Overall, the findings suggest picture warnings may make it more difficult to communicate the differences in risk between ST and cigarettes.

Syftet var att beskriva en grupp värmländska ungdomars tobaks- och munhälsovanor samt undersöka möjliga associationer av dessa till ett tobakspreventivt program i skolan och tilltro till egen förmåga (self-efficacy). Urvalet var elever (15-16 år, n=631) som genomgått ett tobakspreventivt program med information och värderingsövningar i klass 5 och 7. Rökning var vanligare bland flickor än bland pojkar (13% resp 8%), med omvänt förhållande avseende snusning (6% resp 15%). Tandborstning <2 gånger/dag var vanligare bland pojkarna (21%) än bland flickorna (12%). Flickorna hade som grupp lägre self-efficacy. Hög grad av self-efficacy gav signifikant högre sannolikhet att uppleva påverkan av tandvårdens tobakslektioner (p=0.004). I en multivariat modell identifierades tre signifikanta riskfaktorer för att inte uppleva påverkan av tandvårdens tobakslektioner: snusning (OR 2.77; 95% CI 1.42-5.41), låg self-efficacy (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.19-2.42) och boende utan två vuxna (OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.17-2.51). Ålder <15 år (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.46-0.93) gav lägre risk för att inte uppleva påverkan. Stratifierat på kön kvarstod statistisk signifikans av samtliga ovanstående variabler för flickor och boende utan två vuxna för pojkar.  Den kunskap som genererats i studien kan ge underlag för planering av preventions- och promotionsstrategier både i den kliniska verksamheten och vid hälsofrämjande arbete i skolan. / The aim was to examine adolescents in the Swedish county of Värmland, their tobacco and oral health habits, and possible associations of these to a tobacco prevention program and their self-efficacy. The sample were students (15-16 years, n = 631) who had undergone a tobacco prevention program in grade 5 and 7. Smoking was more common among girls than among boys (13% vs. 8%), with inverse relationship for snus use (6% vs. 15%). Toothbrushing <2 times/day were more common among boys (21%) than among girls (12%). The girls had as a group, lower self-efficacy. High degree of self-efficacy entailed a greater probability for self-perceived impact of tobacco lessons (p = 0.004). In a multivariate model three significant risk factors for not experiencing influence from tobacco lessons were identified: snus use (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.42-5.41), low self-efficacy (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.19-2.42) and living without two adults (OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.17-2.51). Age <15 years (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.93) yielded a lower risk for not experiencing influence. Stratified on gender statistical significance persisted regarding all above for girls and living without two adults for boys.  The knowledge generated in this study may serve as a base for planning of prevention and promotion strategies in both clinical practice and in schools.

Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in the world, and 5 million people worldwide continue to smoke. Further adding to the problem is the fact that smoking cessation rates are very low, and there are some smokers for whom quitting smoking is extremely difficult. Many smokers find nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products unappealing, and even when used as directed NRTs only achieve modest cessation rates. Smokeless tobacco (ST) may be more appealing than NRT and deliver nicotine in a more palatable way to cigarette smokers. ST is also far less harmful than smoking. It is for these reasons that many scientists and health professionals have suggested the use of ST as a substitute for smoking to reduce tobacco-related harm. Although the health risk posed by ST appears to be much less than conventional cigarettes, the extent to which ST may serve as a harm reduction product is highly contentious. Furthermore, although ST products are legal and widely available, it remains unclear whether conventional cigarette smokers in Canada will use ST products as a substitute for cigarettes or as a cessation aid, if at all. And despite the strong evidence for the effectiveness of cigarette warning labels, there is little research on ST health warning labels. The current study investigated perceptions of ST products with and without HWLs and relative health risk messages among 611 young adult Canadian smokers aged 18-30. The study sought to examine the impact of ST health warning labels (HWLs) on appeal, willingness to use, and perceived health risk and addictiveness. Participants completed a survey during which they were asked to view and provide their opinions on a series of ST packages that were digitally altered according to each of six experimental conditions: (1) "standard" packages of leading ST brands, (2) "standard" packages + a relative risk message about the harm of cigarettes compared to ST added, (3) "Standard" packages + text HWL, (4) "Standard" packages + text HWL and relative risk message, (5) "Standard" packages + picture HWL, and (6) "Standard" packages + picture HWL and relative risk message. The findings indicate that many smokers are unaware that ST is less harmful to health compared to smoking. Despite this, approximately half of young adult Canadian smokers indicated that iv they were willing to try ST as a substitute for smoking and to help quit smoking. Picture warnings increased misperceptions about the health risk of ST and decreased smokers‘ willingness to try ST, whereas text warnings did not. Similarly, adding a relative health risk message to the warning label that communicates the lower risk of ST compared to cigarettes increased willingness to try ST when added to text warnings, and decreased willingness to try ST even further when added to picture warnings. This study is among the first to examine ST warning labels, and is the first to examine the impact of picture warning labels on ST. Overall, the findings suggest picture warnings may make it more difficult to communicate the differences in risk between ST and cigarettes.

Access to abstract restricted until July 21, 2015. / Asscess to dissertation restricted until July 21, 2015 / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management